The homilist was away on October 9 and 16. -- If we can offer the prayer "Be merciful to me, a sinner," and if we steel ourselves for the long haul of faithfulness, we will be properly oriented toward our God.

The rich man with Lazarus at his door: was he unaware of him? The rich man convicts himself, demonstrating his acquaintance with this poor man. We likewise know that Lazarus and his fellows are at our door.

The homilist did not preach on August 28. -- What does the Kingdom of God demand of us? Great flexibility. We think of the slave Onesimus and the sacred character of human labor. We remember the inner struggle of St. Teresa of Kolkata.